The UCLA gymnastics program has become more than just another gymnastics team.
The high-powered performances, live music, big flips, and powerful endings have become a program staple. Gymnasts like Sophina DeJesus and Katelyn Ohashi electrified arenas and set social media ablaze with their culture-infused winning routines. This season fans watched Nia Dennis tear up the mat with a Black-culture theme performance set to the sounds of Beyonce, Missy Elliott, Tupac. Her Colin Kaepernick tribute infused with step moves she learned from her father earned her an almost perfect score of 9.95.
In an era which has witnessed the rebirth of activism in sports, UCLA gymnastics has successfully integrated power, art and social consciousness into their program.
And it works beautifully.
Last night they did it again at their Black Excellence meet in Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.
The gymnasts walked out with “Black Lives Matter” shirts and “Equality” masks. When they reached the mat, they kneeled and held hands. They elevated their power with black and gold uniforms emblazoned with fists and culminated their performances with raised fists at the end of each individual routine.
It was a well-choreographed and perfectly executed strategy that punctuated the power of both their performance and message.
“In the best way, it did shake me to my core in a way that was so emotionally beautiful,” said UCLA junior gymnast Margzetta Frazier. “Knowing that these women took the time since the summer to sit and observe and learn our stories and something as bold as a power fist … for them to do that really meant the world to me.”
The fact that it was a “Black Excellence” meet tells you everything you need to know about this program and the athletes involved. These young women send a message with their words, music selection, and actions. Best of all, they’re winning, adding an exclamation point to their inspiring and visually emotional routines.
“UCLA gymnastics is more than a gymnastics team,” said Frazier. “I love the message that we’re spreading. I love how we’re doing it and we’re going to continue to do it.”
The Lady Bruins defeated Oregon State yesterday, but that win wasn’t just due to the score.
They won, and continue to do so, because they exert power through art and enable their art to exert power.
“It was so fun,” said Nia Dennis. “I honestly felt limitless. I felt empowered and I just felt supported and loved and I know my teammates also felt the same way.”
We all did Nia.
